Welcome to the cool Saunablogger blog, stories from saunas around the world, from Finnish smoke saunas to luxury spa saunas. Not to mention hotel saunas! The Saunablogger has explored saunas in 43 countries, in a total of 211 saunas. You can also click on the map below to see where in the world they took place.
The Saunablogger articles appeared originally in the Blogspot Planetskier series, at TGR posts, or at the Relaa website. See also the articles about skiing, caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, and swimming.
All sauna-related articles:
| Refurbished Tuusula Swimming Hall The Tuusula swimming hall has been in renovations for a long time, a year? Now at the start of the summer 2026 it re-opened. Of course I had to visit! Full story Alternate link July 2027, Tuusulan Uimahalli, Hyrylä, Tuusula, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Valkeakoski swimming hall Valkeakoski. I knew this place mostly for the paper mill, but it is small city. And has a swimming hall! Since I was nearby, I wanted to try it. Full story Alternate link June 2026, Valkeakosken uimahalli, Valkeakoski, Finland Swimming (Waterbody-Pool, Water, Indoor); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Vilnius Grand Resort Spas I tried to do my trip to Lithuania in a day, but the drives and the caves and skiing took too much time to really do it, so I opted for a 24 hour trip instead. I need a place to stay for the night, and the Vilnius Grand Resort seemed to fit the bill: affordable price (100€) per night, not too far from the airport, had a spa, and most importantly, the spa was open late into the night so I wouldn't miss when coming back from my tour. Full story Alternate link June 2026, Vilnius Grand Resort, Vilnius, Lithuania Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam) | |
| Aulanko swim and (man-made) bear cave Another after-work evening activity: visiting Aulanko's spa (hosted by the Scandic hotel Aulanko). This is a historic spa location, the old spa building is still there but today's spa visits are in the new fancy building. I had also heard about "bear cave" in the adjoining Aulanko nature park. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Kylpylä Scandic Aulanko, Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland; Karhuluola, Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water); Sauna (Normal, Infrared, Steam); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Granite, Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Other) | |
| Bath Baths Two spas, separated by one block and two thousand years. One you can't swim in because it is dangerous, and one you can swim in. If you are a guest at the hotel, that is. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Roman Baths, Bath, United Kingdom; The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath, United Kingdom Swimming (None); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Historic); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam, Infrared) | |
| Kruunupuisto swims I'm at a health rehab this week, in chose the place so that I could enjoy the nature at the same time. I'm in Hotel Kruunupuisto, on the national landscape of Punkaharju where thin sandy ridges cross lakes. The Finnish "road of the century" runs along the ridges, lined up with pine trees and the water. Wonderful place. I also tested the hotel spa, the hotel beach, and biked around the the area. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Kruunupuisto, Punkaharju, Finland; Kruunupuiston uimaranta, Punkaharju, Finland; Vuosisadan tie, Punkaharju, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Infrared); Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Lake); Biking (Bike-Road, Outdoor, Track-Road) | |
| Savonlinna caves & swims I was returning from my trip to Punkaharju and again wanted to stop by interesting places on this four-hour drive. I picked two interesting caves south of Savonlinna, and a swim at Savonlinna's "PikkuSaimaa" swimming pool. Right by the lake, and where you can see Olavinlinna (Olavi's castle). Overall a very nice tour, even if the caves turned out to be mostly shelter caves not proper tunnels under the rock. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Haukkavuoren Lippaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Haukkavuoren Halkeamaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Myllylahden Linnalouhen Iso Lippaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Myllylahden Linnalouhen Kolmioluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Savonlinnan uimahalli PikkuSaimaa, Savonlinna, Finland Caving (Basic, Rock, Morphology-Crack, Morphology-Erosion, Surveying); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Skiing, Caves, and Swimming on one trip I managed a Mother's Day trip with a visit to see my mom, but also to ski a closed ski hill, hike to see a cave, and swim at a new swimming hall. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Kokonniemen hiihtokeskus, Porvoo, Finland; Kolisevan Pirunpesä, Iitti, Finland; Kuusankosken uimahalli, Kuusankoski, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Unknown, Morphology-Crack, Morphology-Erosion); Swimming (Water, Waterbody-Pool, Indoor); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Turku skis, no snow, but at least there was a sauna Wow, I dragged my skis here for 200 kilometers, but there's absolutely no snow left in Hirvensalo ski hill. Sigh. Late May and June really are difficult, just a few weeks earlier it likely would have been some snow left on the ski slopes. Oh well, at least my other activities during the day allowed me to visit a sauna. Full story Alternate link May 2026, Hirvensalo, Turku, Finland; Turun NMKY - YMCA, Turku, Finland Skiing (None); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Tampere Conferences, hotels, saunas, and swims Tampere. I was just here for a cottage visit ... but this time in a conference, staying at a hotel ... and visiting the hotel sauna and a local swimming pool for fun. Nice trip. Always love Tampere! Full story Alternate link April 2026, Hotelli Scandic Tampere Asema, Tampere, Finland; Pyynikin uimahalli, Tampere, Finland Travel; Sauna (Normal); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool) | |
| Pool at the Leppävaara Fressi Gym So, I'm still out of nearby swimming pools and have looked into gyms with pools and saunas... a few days ago the visit to Forever Töölö was wonderful (link, alt. link). Today I went to the Fressi gym chain's Leppävaara site. They have a pretty extensive gym setup with group exercise rooms, exercise machines, and yes, even a sauna and a small pool. Friendly place and staff! Full story Alternate link April 2026, Fressi Leppävaara, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Swimming with a 747 staring at you from the window Corendon hotel, near the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. A six-hour layover requires something else than sitting at the airport seats. So I found a spa at the Corendon hotel. Nice, small spa with a sauna and a steam room, a nice curving pool and small baby pool. As I was floating in the pool, the realization stuck me: a 747 was starting me straight from the window. Full story Alternate link April 2026, Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Flying | |
| Jokihelmi It is a small one. The pool is just 16.67 meters long. But there is another pool, the therapy pool. And that pool has a fireplace next to it. Cute! Full story Alternate link April 2026, Padasjoen uimahalli Jokihelmi, Padasjoki, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Swimming hall prices in Finland Iltalehti had an interesting article about the prices of swimming hall visits. Ranging from 20€ to 3€, but mostly around 6-7€. Full story Alternate link March 2026, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland Swimming (None); Sauna (None) | |
| Pessets Spa Hotel Pessets Restaurant & Spa is located in Sort, in the Pyrenees mountains, at the northern border of Spain and near Andorra. Full story Alternate link March 2026, Hotel Pessets Restaurant & Spa, Sort, Spain Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam) | |
| Early season cottage trip Beach season opened at the cottage. Someone did swim but I will save the full immersive experience for later 🙂 March is earliest that we’ve been to the cottage, ever. Full story Alternate link March 2026, Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland Swimming (None); Sauna (Normal) | |
This is the 1th set of articles. The next sets are set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, set 6, set 7, set 8, set 9, set 10, set 11, set 12, set 13, set 14, set 15, and set 16.